Apparatus for handling eggs.



PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

P. MANDEVILLE. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EGGS.

APPLIUATION HLBD o oT.16, 190s.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 789,224. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

P. MANDEVILLB. I

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EGGS.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 16, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HAHN@ up iiilill v J7 M 77 5I 60 @M7/esse@ PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

P. MANDEVILLB.

APPARATUS POB. HANDLING EGGS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.16, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@Wes se s No.' 789.224. PATENTBD MAY 9, 1905.

P. MANDEVILLE.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EGGS.

APPL-NATION FILED 00T. 16, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IHM" WMU" am www,

No. 789,224. v I PATENTBD MAY 9.71905. P. MANDBVILLE. PPARATUS FOR11991111.1199. EGGS.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 16, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

51419. 5i gli PATENTED MAY 9, 1G05.

P. MANDGVILLB.

ABPARATUS PoR HANDLING EGGS. 4

APPLICATION FILED 00T.1B, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

NTTED STATES Patented May 9, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

PAUL MANDEVILLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HIMSELFAND ONE-HALF TO SVIFT AND COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLI- NOIS, ACORPORATIONOF ILLINOIS.-

APPARATUS FOR SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 789,224,dated May 9, 1905.

Application iled October 16, 1903. Serial No. 177,351.

T @ZZ whom it m/n/ z/ concern.'

Be it known that I, PAUL MANDEVILLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for HandlingEggs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to apparatus for handling eggs as an aid tocandling, and has for its object to provide a new and improved apparatusconstructed and arranged to carry the eggs to the candlers and toreceive the candled eggs and carry them to the packers, meanwhilekeeping separate the different grades into which the eggs are assortedby the candlers. I accomplish this object as illustrated in the drawingsand as hereinafter described.

What I regard as new is set fort-h in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the endportions of my improved apparatus. Fig. Qisa plan view thereof. Fig. 3is a view of one end of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a View of the other endofthe apparatus. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5 5 of Fig. I.Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is alongitudinal sectional view illustrating the construction of one of theconveyers. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the conveyers. some'parts being in section. Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating thedischarge end of one of the conveyers. Fig. 10 is a perspective viewillustrating one of the upper con veyers. Fig. ll is a partiallongitudinal section of the discharge end of one of the conveyers; andFig. 40 12 is an enlarged detail, being a partial longitudinal sectionof one of the upper conveyers.

Generally speaking, my invention in its most improved form comprises apair of traveling carriers in the form of endless belts arranged inparallelism and extending' from an apartment at one Vside ofthecandlingroom to the oppositefside ofthe candlingroom. Suchcarriersi'se'rve'":to `carry eggs placed upon them at one end into thecandling-roorn, where the candlers stand along opposite sides of theapparatus, so as to be able to conveniently take the eggs from thecarrier and candle them. A series of canl dling-lamps, preferablyincandescent lights, l hang over the carriers, so as to be convenientl yaccessible to the candlers. Between the said traveling carriers are aseries of conveyers which extend from the inlet end of the candling-roomthrough said room to an apartment at the opposite side thereof, wherethe eggs are discharged.

In the best form of the apparatus I provide aplurality of endless beltsin different horizontal'planes, one above the other, and each of saidbelts is divided longitudinally by one or more partitions which overliethe belts, so as to separate the space over each belt into two or morelongitudinal compartments, which for convenience will be termed con-Veyer-compartments. I thusprovide a number of conveyer-compartments forreceiving eggs of different grades as they are sorted out by thecandlers.

In a double apparatus such as that above described-thatis to say, onewhere operators are provided at both sides-duplicateconveyer-compartments are provided at opposite sides of the apparatusfor eggs of the predominating quality; but for such qualities as arecomparatively infrequent it is desirable that the same conveyer-compartments be employed by the operators at both sides of the apparatus,and to this end I provide chutes extending from the opposite sides ofthe apparatus to such conveyer-compartments, so that all theconveyer-compartments which are used in common by operators at bothsides of the apparatus are conveniently accessible. The diiferentconveyer-connpartments extend into the delivery-room and the lower onesextend beyond the upper ones, so that the delivery ends of all areconveniently accessible to the operators charged with the duty ofremoving and packing the eggs. I also provide means for starting andstopping all the carriers or conveyers simultaneously and also forindependentl y stopping and starting the different conveyers, as may benecessary from time to time.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the apartment in which thetraveling carriers receive the eggs to be candled and in which thedriving mechanism is located. For convenience said apartment will betermed the Hreceiving-room.

B indicates the candling-room, and C the delivery-room, in which theeandled eggs are removed and packed.

c indicates the partition between rooms A B, and b the partition betweenrooms B C.

1 2 indicate benches or frames, which carry rollers 3 4 at their endsadapted to receive endless belts 5 6, respectively. As best shown inFig. 2, the belts 5 6 extend from the receiving-room A through thecandling-room B and are arranged in parallelism, being spaced a shortdistance apart. The rollers 3 of the belts 5 6 are provided,respectively, with sprocket-wheels 7 8, connected by belts 9 10,respectively, with clutch members 11 12, loosely mounted on a shaft 13.(Best shown in Fig. The shaft 13 is provided with a pul.

ley 14 or other suitable means for driving it.

15 indicates a clutch member feathered on the shaft 13 and adapted tomove into engagement with the clutch member 11 for driving the belt 5. Alever 16 is provided for throwing the clutch 15 into and out ofoperative position.

17 indicates a similar clutch member, mounted on the shaft 13 andadapted to engage the clutch member 12 to drive the belt 6. A lever 18is provided for operating the clutch member 17. Both thev levers 16 18are' conveniently arranged so that the operator may actuate them.

-20 21 indicate side rails extending along the sides of the belt 5, soas to keep the eggs resting thereon from rolling off. 22 23 indicatesimilar rails for the belt 6.

rlhe belts 5 6, which serve to supply eggs to' the operators, will forconvenience be termed carriers, while the belts which conduct assortedeggs from the candlers will be termed conveyers. It will be understood,however, that this is purely an arbitrary use of terms.

24 indicates one of the conveyers, consisting of an endless beltarranged between the carrier-belts 5 6, suitable rollers being providedto support said belt. As best shown in Fig. 2, said conveyer-belt 24extends from the partition a through the candling-room into thedelivery-room C. Said belt is driven by a sprocket-wheel 25, connectedby a belt 26 with a clutch member 27, loosely mounted on the shaft 13and adapted to be engaged by a clutch-section 28, mounted on a featheron said shaft and operated by a lever 29, as shown in Fig. 3. rIheconveyer 24 is preferably in the same horizontal plane as the carriers 56, and it is provided with side rails 29 30 similar to the side rails 202l.

31 indicates a conveyer placed between the 33 with a loose clutch member34 on the shaft 13, which is adapted to be engaged by a clutch member35, operated by a lever 36.

The conveyer 31 is provided with side rails 37 38 and is divided into aplurality of compartments c Z by a rail 39, which extends longitudinallythereof, being supported by crossbars 40, as best shown in Figs. 5 and6. The rail 39 does not quite touch the upper surface of the conveyer31, and therefore does not interfere with the freedom of movementthereof. It extends near enough to said conveyer, however, to preventeggs from passing under it from one side to the other. I thus provide aplurality of conveyer-compartments on a single belt. Obviously eggsplaced in either of the conveyer-compartments c Z will be carried along,but will nevertheless be prevented from interming'ling.

41 indicates a third conveyer arranged over the conveyer 31 and drivenby a sprocketwheel 42. The sprocket-wheel 42 is driven by a belt 43,which is driven by a loose clutch mem ber 44, mounted on the shaft 13and adapted to be engaged by a clutchmember 45, operated by a lever 46.By this construction it will be seen that either of the conveyers may bestarted or stopped separately. Also the carriers may be stopped orstarted independently of each other and of the conveyers. All theconveyers and carriers may be stopped or started simultaneously bystopping or starting the shaft 13.

The con veyer 41 is provided with side rails 47 48, and it isalsodivided into three conveyer-compartments by longitudinal partitions 4950, supported by cross-bars 51, which rest on the rails 47 48, as shownin Figs. 2 and 6. i The conveyer 41 is shorter than the conveyer 31, sothat it does not extend quite so far into the delivery-room. Thus thedelivery IIO ends of all of the conveyers are readily accessible to thepackers.

In order to prevent the different conveyers from sagging under theirloads, I provide tables 52 53 54, respectively, which extend under them,as shown in Fig. 6. Similarly, tables 55 56 are provided under thecarriers 5 6.

57 indicates a series of candlers lam ps, which are suspended over thecarriers 5 6. as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6.

It will be noted that the conveyer 24 istwice as wide as each of theconveyer-compartments c CZ and that each of the conveyer-compartc, f,and 6, into which the conveyer 41 is divided, is one-third as wide asthe conveyer 24. This arrangement is provided for the reason that thereare comparatively few eggs of certain grades, and consequently conveyersof less capacity are required for them than for others. In the apparatusillustrated and described I have provided for six grades of eggs, thelargest conveyer or conveyer-compartment 24 being intended to receivethe grade of which there are the greatest number. Since this conveyerextends adjacent to both carriers 6, it may be used by operators at bothsides of the apparatus.

Conveyer 31, being divided into two conveyer-compartments, may be usedfor two distinct grades. Said conveyeris low enough so that both of itsconveyer-compartments may readily be reached by operators at both sidesof the apparatus. Conveyer 41, however, is so high that the operators atone side of the apparatus cannot conveniently reach to theconveyer-compartment at the opposite side thereof. I therefore providechutes 58 59, which extend from one side of the apparatus toconveyer-compartments e f, respectively, and chutes 60 61, which extendfrom the opposite side of the apparatus to conveyer-compartments g f,respectively, as best shown in Fig. 2. Thus all the differentconveyer-compartments of the conveyer 41 are made convenientlyaccessible from both sides of the apparatus.

In order to avoid damaging eggs delivered from the different chutes,they are provided with inclined lips 62, which conduct the eggs down tothe conveyer-belt. Said lips are hinged, as shown at 63 in Fig. 12, sothat they may ride over the eggs already on the belt, and they are alsoprovided with hinged coverplates 64, which extend over them, so as toprevent the eggs rolling down the lips 32 from being thrown violentlyagainst the eggs already on the conveyer. The cover-plate 64 is hingedto suitable supports 65, so as to rise and fall with the lips 62.

As the eggs are carried out of the candlingroom by the conveyers theyare taken by operators from the ends of the conveyers and packed inappropriate cases. Broken eggs and other waste matter are removed bymeans of scrapers 66, arranged in an inclined position across thedelivery ends of the conveyers, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11, so that anyfluid matter flows down the scrapers over troughs 67 into receptacles 68placed to'receive it.

69 indicates adjusting-screws for adjusting the different pulleys towardand from each other to vary the tension of the different conveyers andcarriers.

While I have described specifically the embodiment of my inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, I wish it to be understoodthat my invention is not restricted to the speciiic details of theconstruction described, except in so far as they are particu` larlyclaimed, but includes the generic invention set forth in the broaderclaims.

That whichI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a candlingchamber,egg-testing means, means for conducting eggs thereto, a plurality ofconveyers adapted to receive the tested eggs, and means for driving saidconveyers independently of said conducting means, substantially asdescribed.

2. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a candling-chamber,egg-testing means, means for conducting eggs thereto, a plurality ofconveyers in different horizontal planes in said candling-chamber forreceiving the tested eggs, and means for driving said conveyers,substantially as described.

3. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a candling chamber, eggtesting means, means for conducting eggs thereto, a conveyer adapted toreceive the tested eggs,

stationary means dividing the upper surface of said conveyer into aplurality of conveyercompartments, and means fordriving said con veyer,substantially as described.

4. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a candling chamber, eggtesting means, means for conducting eggs thereto, a conveyerl adapted toreceive the tested eggs, a stationary longitudinally-extending partitiondividing' the upper surface of said -conveyer into a plurality ofconveyer-compartments, and means for driving said conveyer,substantially as described.

5. An apparatus for'handling eggs, comprising a candling chamber, eggtesting means, atraveling carrier for conductingI eggs thereto, aplurality of separate conveyer-compartments adjacent to said carrieradapted to receive and separate eggs of different grades, and drivingmechanism, substantially as described.

6. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a traveling carrieradapted to supply eggs to the candlers, a plurality ofconveyercompartments adjacent to said carrier adapted to receive andcarry away the assorted eggs, driving mechanism, and means for `startingand stopping said carrier independently of said conveyer mechanism,substantially as described.

7. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a candling chamber, eggtesting means, a plurality of traveling carriers arranged inparallelism, and means lying between said carriers adapted to receiveand carry away the assorted eggs, substantially as described.

8. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a plurality of travelingcarriers arranged in parallelism, and a plurality ofconveyer-compartments arranged adjacent for said traveling carriers forreceiving and guiding the. assorted eggs, substantially as described.

IOO

9. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a plurality of travelingcarriers arranged in parallelism, and a plurality of conveyer-compartrnents arranged adjacent to said carriers for receiving and guidingthe assorted eggs, said conveyer-compartments being in ditlerenthorizontal planes, substantially as described.

10. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a plurality of travelingcarriers arranged in parallelism, means for stopping and starting saidcarriers independently of each other, a plurality ofconveyer-compartments arranged adjacent to said carriers for receivingand guiding the assorted eggs, one or more conveyers for saidconveyer-compartments, and means for starting and stopping the latterconveyers independently of said carriers, substantially as described.

11. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a traveling carrieradapted to conduct eggs, a conveyer arranged adjacent to said carrierfor receiving and carrying away the assorted eggs, means dividing thespace above said conveyer longitudinally into a plurality oi'conveyer-compartments, and means for conducting eggs over one of saidconveyercompartments to the other, substantially as described.

12. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a traveling carrieradapted to conduct eggs, a conveyer arranged adjacent to said carrierfor receiving and carrying away the assorted eggs, means dividing thespace above said conveyer longitudinally into `a plurality ofconveyer-compartments, and a chute extending over one of saidconveyer-compartments to the other, substantially as described.

13. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a traveling carrieradapted to conduct eggs, a conveyer arranged adjacent to said carrierfor receiving and carrying away the assorted eggs. means dividing thespace above said conveyer longitudinally into a plurality ofconveyer-compartments, a chute extending over one of saidconveyer-compartments to the other, and a swinging lip for said chute,substantially as described.

14. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a traveling carrieradapted to conduct eggs, a conveyer arranged adjacent to said carrierfor receiving and carrying away the assorted eggs, means dividing thespace above said conveyer longitudinally into a plurality ofconveyer-compartments, a chute extending over one of saidconveyer-compartments to the other, a swinging lip for said chute, and acover-plate for said lip, substantially as described.

15. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a plurality oi' travelingcarriers arranged in parallelism, a conveyer between said travelingcarriers, means dividing said conveyer into a plurality of compartments,and

chutes extending 'from each side of said conveyer to the compartment atthe opposite side thereof, substantially as described.

16. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a plurality of conveyersin different horizontal planes, the lower conveyers extending beyond theupper ones, and means adjacent to said conveyers for supplying eggs tothe candlers, substantially as described.

17. The combination-of a candling-room, receiving and delivery roomsadjacent to said candling-room, a carrier extending from said receivingroom into said candling room, means in said candling-room and extendinginto said delivery-room for receiving and carrying away the candledeggs, and means for driving said carrier independently of said revceiving and carrying means, substantially as described.

18. The combination of a candling-room, receiving and delivery roomsadjacent to said candling-room, a traveling' carrier extending from saidreceiving-room into said candling'- room for supplying eggs, aplurality'of stationary conveyer-compartments in said candling-room andextending therefrom into said delivery-room, conveyer mechanism forconducting the eggs in said conveyer-compartments, and means in saidreceiving-room for starting and stopping said carrier and saidconveyer-compartments, substantially as described.

19. An apparatus Jfor handling eggs, comprising means for supplying eggsto the candlers, a conveyer adapted to receive the eggs from thecandlers, stationary means dividing the upper surface of said conveyerinto a plurality of conveyer-compartments, and means for driving saidconveyer, substantially as described.

20. Anapparatus for handling eggs, comprising means for supplying eggsto the candlers, a conveyer adapted to receive the eggs from thecandlers, a stationary partition dividing the upper surface of saidconveyerinto a plurality of conveyer-compartments, and means for drivingsaid conveyer, substantially as described.

2l. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising means for supplying eggsto the candlers, a conveyer adapted to receive the eggs from thecandlers, a partition dividing the upper surfaceof the conveyer into aplurality of conveyer-compartments, means independent of said conveyerfor supporting said partition, and means Jfor driving said conveyer,substantially as described.

22. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a candling chamber, eggtesting means, a conveyer adapted to receive the tested eggs, stationarymeans dividing the upper surface of said conveyer into a plurality ofconveyer-compartments, and means for driving said conveyer,substantially as described.

23. An apparatus for handling eggs, cornprising a plurality ofconveyer-compartments adapted to receive assorted eggs, a travelingcarrier, and independent means for operating said carrier, substantiallyas described.

24. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a traveling carrier, aplurality of conveyer-compartments arranged adjacent to said carrier forreceiving and guiding assorted eggs, one or more conveyers for saidconveyer-compartments and means for starting and stopping' the latterconveyers independently of said carrier, substantially as described.

25. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a conveyer for receivingand carrying away assorted eggs, means dividing' the space above saidconveyer longitudinally into aplurality of conveyer-compartments, andmeans for conducting eggs over one of said conveyercompartments toanother, substantially as described.

- 26. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a candling chamber, eggtesting means, means for conducting eggs thereto, a plurality ofconveyers arranged one above another in said candling-chamber forreceiving the tested eggs, and means for driving said conveyers,substantially as described.

27. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a candling-chamber,egg-testing means, means for conducting eggs thereto, a plurality ofconveyers in different horizontal planes adapted to receive the testedeggs, and means for driving said conveyers independently of saidconducting means, substantially as described.

28. An apparatus for handling eggs, comprising a candling chamber, eggtesting means, atraveling carrier for conducting eggs thereto,aplurality of conveyer-compartments adjacent to said carrier adapted toreceive assorted eggs, means independent of said carrier for moving theeggs in said conveyercompartments, and driving mechanism, substantiallyas described.

PAUL 'MANDEVILLE Witnesses:

W. A. GREENE, F. A. WHEELER.

